WEBVTT AND WHO HE CHALLENGES NEXT. NOW TO A 12 NEWS INVESTIGATION INTO KIDS STEALING CARS IN MILWAUKEE. TONIGHT THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR STEERING THOSE KIDS STRAIGHT RESPONDS TO CRITICISM FROM MILWAUKEE'S TOP COP. WISN 12 NEWS' TERRY SATER IS LIVE AT THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER. TERRY, YOU HAVE A RARE INTERVIEW WITH THE MAN IN CHARGE THERE. YES. THE MAN WHO RUNS THIS PLACE SAYS HE SHARES THE CHIEFS CONCERN. AUTO THEFT IS UP 68% THIS YEAR. TOO MANY KIDS ARE STEALING CARS WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES. YOU GOT ARRESTED HOW MANY TIMES? EIGHT. ERIK JOHNSON IS 18 YOU'RE OLD AND ONE OF THE MEN MILWAUKEE LYCÉE IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM. THAT SUBSET OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BECOME THE CAREER TERMINALS. ARRESTED FOR STEALING A CAR AT 16, HE IS PRAISING -- FACING PRISON TIME AS AN ADULT, ACCUSED OF AUTO THEFT AGAIN. IF YOU HAD MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES THE FIRST OR SECOND TIME, WITH THAT OF MANY DIFFERENT? KIND OF. I WOULDN'T BE STANDING HERE RIGHT NOW. ALL THE RESEARCH SAYS THAT IT IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. THIS MAN RUNS MILWAUKEE'S JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER. HE SAYS OF THE HUNDRED 86 KIDS IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR 73% WERE DETAINED IN FACE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. REPEAT OFFENDERS ARE NEEDED TO BE TARGETED. THOSE ARE THE ONES WE NEED TO TARGET. WE NEED TO SEE WHAT KIND OF INTERVENTION WE CAN BRING TO BEAR. WE NEED TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. HE SAYS INSTEAD OF LOCKING KIDS UP, THEY TRY TO BE CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR. WE TRY TO TO PROVIDE INTERVENTION FOR THE KIDS. WE INCREASED THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS TO GRACE THE ADMINISTRATOR SAYS 24% OF THE KIDS WHO GOT HERE ARE ACCUSED OF STEALING CARS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR 44% OF THE AUTO THEFTS COMMITTED BY JUVENILES IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY.